The Newest Peekskill Canine to Be Named after Fallen Peekskill Police Officer Who Passed Away From A 9/11-related Condition

The Peekskill Police Department named the newest member of their canine team after a fallen Peekskill Detective who passed away in 2013 from sarcoidosis, a disease he contracted while participating in the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks.

Charles Wassil, who worked at Ground Zero following the attacks, began having symptoms of sarcoidosis a few month after his time working on the “Pile” at Ground Zero. Based on various studies that are posted on the NYC 9/11 Health website, there is a presumption that exposure to the dust at Ground Zero is associated with the development of sarcoidosis among first responders.

This debilitating inflammatory disease often begins in the lungs but can attack any organ in the body. Mr. Wassil’s condition eventually forced him into retirement in 2008 and led to his passing in 2013 at the age of 52. Barasch & McGarry represent Mr. Wassil’s family for a Victim Compensation Fund claim where the VCF has already established that his sarcoidosis is in fact connected to his time at Ground Zero. The firm will be providing the family with the compensation they deserve from the VCF.

The newly trained canine, Charlie, was formally named at the 2018 Canine Graduation on January 31st at Grand Central Terminal, a ceremony conducted by the MTA Police Department. Charlie’s name was chosen after students of the Peekskill elementary and middle schools held a contest to name the newest officer where Charles Wassil’s name was a strong contender, according to social media sites associated with the police department.

"Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson handled everything professionally and with patience. They always had time to answer all my questions and did what they promised. Thanks esp to Brian Calamaris Lee London, and Mariya Atanasova. Thank you."
- William Collins, FDNY

"If I could give them six stars I would...don't even bother talking to anyone else concerning 9/11. The whole team worked night and day to deliver an outstanding settlement. They are honest, hard working and extremely professional. Just make the one phone call and let them do the rest."
- Les Margulis, resident in the exposure zone

"I had a very good experience with Michael and Mariya. They made the process stress free. I would recommend this firm to anyone seeking assistance with 9/11 related illnesses."
- JE Kirwan, worked in the exposure zone

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- Letitia Egan, wife of client, volunteer in the exposure zone

Deadline Extended to Register for Compensation

There is still time to apply for significant compensation if you have been diagnosed with any of the 68 cancers that doctors at the WTC Health Program (WTCHP) have linked to the WTC toxic dust. The deadline to apply to the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is two years from the date that a cancer has been certified by the WTC Health Program — or any other governmental agency. The two-year period to register doesn’t start on the day of a cancer diagnosis. Rather, it starts only when a cancer survivor is made aware their cancer was linked to exposure to the WTC toxins.

For those who died from their WTC-linked cancers, the two-year period for their family to register starts on the day of the death of the WTC victim.

Please help spread the word about the strict two-year deadline to register a claim

Many people have tried to complete the VCF application on their own, only to learn that it requires answers to hundreds of questions and many documents to download. It would be our pleasure to help you complete the process in order to ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to. Please call us for a free consultation.

Let a knowledgeable attorney help you figure it out

A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying. You undoubtedly have questions about your disease and how you will pay for treatment. Lawyers at Barasch & McGarry ensure you understand the complex requirements and help devise the best strategies for obtaining compensation and appropriate medical care under the Zadroga Act.
Contact our law firm online or call 888-351-9421. The initial consultation is free, so it costs you nothing to find out whether a lawyer can help.

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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Barasch & McGarry is located in New York, New York and serves clients throughout the entire New York metropolitan area, including former New York residents who have since relocated to other states and volunteers who came to New York to help in the WTC rescue and recovery efforts.

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